It appears another change is in sight for late night television next year with David Letterman retiring from his post at CBS's Late Show.

More information is expected Thursday evening on CBS Evening News.

It's been suggested numerous times before that CBS could easily hire Stephen Colbert or Jon Stewart to fill the void if needed (their contracts with Comedy Central are up later this year and mid-2015, respectively). Chelsea Handler is rumored to be leaving her E! Network show late this year to pursue other options.

(via CBS's Jeff Glor)

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Updated with official CBS statement, followed by video of Letterman telling his audience the news below.

David Letterman, during a taping of tonight’s Late Show, said that he informed Leslie Moonves, President and CEO of CBS Corporation, that he will step down as the host of the show in 2015, which is when his current contract expires.

“The man who owns this network, Leslie Moonves, he and I have had a relationship of years and years and years, and we have had this conversation in the past, and we agreed that we would work together on this circumstance and the timing of this circumstance. And I phoned just before the program, and I said “Leslie, it’s been great, you’ve been great, and the network has been great, but I’m retiring,” said Letterman.

“I just want to reiterate my thanks for the support from the network, all the people who have worked there, all the people in the theater, all the people on the staff, everybody at home, thank you very much. What this means now, is that Paul and I can be married.”

“We don’t have the timetable for this precisely down — I think it will be at least a year or so, but sometime in the not too distant future, 2015 for the love of God, in fact, Paul and I will be wrapping up,” he added, to a standing ovation from the audience in the Ed Sullivan Theater.

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